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   the rEgion
 

Crime in region continues decline SANDAG Criminal Justice Research Division

Crime continues to decline in the San Diego region with violent crime and property crime down overall this year, according to a new report released by the SANDAG.

The report, compiled by the SANDAG Criminal Justice Research Division (CJRD), contains an analysis of recent crime trends and provides a 25-year historical look at crime showing San Diego is a safer place when compared to violent and property crime rates from 1982. A copy of the report is available below in PDF format or by visiting www.sandag.org/crimereport.

  • In 1982, 5.5 violent crimes were committed per 1,000 residents versus 4.4 in 2006.

  • In 1982, 55.7 property crimes were committed per 1,000 residents versus 30.4 in 2006.

While violent crime overall (homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault) decreased in 2006, the San Diego region reported an increase in homicides. During the past 25 years, the number of homicides peaked at 278 in 1991 and decreased fairly steadily to a low of 86 in 1998. In 2006, 125 homicides were recorded, up from 98 homicides in 2005.

SANDAG officials note that this possible trend of increased violence also has been reported in a number of other large U.S. cities, including Boston, Cincinnati, Detroit, and Miami. This recent increase in violent crime in the United States may be more than just a “blip” and deserves attention and resources before a true tipping point occurs, according to the Police Executive Research Forum.

More than $293 million worth of property was stolen in the San Diego region during 2006, compared to $269 million in 2005. Only forty-two-percent of this property, which was valued at almost $124 million, was recovered in 2006. More than half (55%) of all property crimes in 2006 were larcenies. Larceny, or theft, is the most common crime with one reported to law enforcement about every ten minutes in 2006. The most common larceny type was theft from inside motor vehicles (47%) with the second most common from buildings (19%). Most larcenies (62%) involve property valued at $400 or less.

Each year, the SANDAG CJRD compiles and analyzes regional crime data using FBI Index crime information provided by local law enforcement agencies as well as crime data obtained from the SANDAG Automated Regional Justice Information System.

Dr. Cynthia Burke, Director of the CJRD, presented the findings detailed in this report to the SANDAG Public Safety Committee on Friday, April 20, 2007.

Project Manager:
Dr. Cynthia Burke, Director, SANDAG Criminal Justice Research Division
cbu@sandag.org, (619) 699-1910